Dispenser



27, 1967 s. YERKOVICH DISPENSER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 13, 1963INVENTOR. @MQY Xzezo wo/ 02 M June 27, 1967 s. YERKOVICH 3,327,901

DISPENSER Filed Dec. 13, 1965 4 heets-Sheet 2 4 (M WWW w T V 1 5 Tu W. 62 m M v hfi 7 -MM4 m AW 2 m June 1967 s. YERKOVICH 3, 0

DISPENSER Filed Dec. 15, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 SOLE/VOID INVENTOR.

June 27, 1967 s. YERKOVICH DISPENSER Filed Dec.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR d'x/wo/v ysezawaq OW WM 47r0eA/Es 5 UnitedStates Patent 3,327,901 DISPENSER Simon Yerkovich, Culver City, Calif.,assignor of onehalf to Jet Dispenser Corp, a corporation of California,

and one-half to Myco Industries, Inc., a corporation of Californa FiledDec. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 330,341 12 Claims. (Cl. ZZZ-52) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A liquid dispensing apparatus for automatically dispensingsmall, predetermined quantities of a liquid material such as soap, whena receiving body, such as a hand, is placed in a position to receivesuch quantity of material. A reservoir is provided for containing theliquid material, a pump is positioned under the reservoir with its inletcommunicating directly with the bottom of the reservoir with itsdischarge downwardly directed therebelow, and a photoelectric devicepositioned adjacent the discharge of the pump to actuate the pump todeliver such quantity of material when a body, such as a hand, ispositioned adjacently below the pump discharge in a material receivingposition.

This invention relates to dispensing devices and, more particuarly, to adevice for automatically delivering small predetermined quantities ofliquid soap or the like detergent materials onto the hands'of a userwithout requiring manual operation thereof or any physical contacttherewith. 1

The apparatus of tihs invention is generally suited for use in washroomsor public buildings, restaurants, hospitals, and the like, but itsprimary purpose and most important function is as a surgeons antisepticsoap dispenser.

Heretofore, hand washing processes, particularly preparatory toperformance of surgical operations, have required some kind of manualoperation or handling of a soap con- 7 tainer or dispenser, either bythe surgeon himself or by an assistant, and such conditions wereundesirable, both from the standpoint of insuring sterile workingconditions and requiring additional assisting personnel. Also by reasonof the peculiar, viscous, thixotropic and semiplastic properties of thesoap mixture usually employed,,the dispensing apparatus heretoforeemployed therefor has been erratic and unreliable in operation. 7

It is accordingly an object of this invention to furnish an improvedautomatic soap dispenser.

It is another object of this invention to furnish a soap dispenser whichmay be operated at will by the operator alone, without requiring anyphysical contact whatsoever wtih the apparatus.

It is still another object of this invention to furnish a soap dispenserdevice which is automatically actuated merely by placing the hands orother object to which the soap is to be applied in apredeterminedsoap-receiving position relative to the apparatus.

It is a further object of this invention to furnish an automaticdispenser which embodies improved mechanical and electrical featureswhich render it more reliable and durable and more economical inoperation than those herteofore available.

It is a still further object of this invention to furnish an automaticdispenser which embodies improved mechanical and electrical featureswhich render it more reliable and durable and more economical inoperation than those heretofore available.

ICC

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improvedautomatic soap dispenser which can be more easily and effectivelymaintained in a clean and sanitary condition.

Important features of this invention by which the foregoing objects ofthis invention are attained and which particularly suit it to handwashing operations wherein conditions of maximum surgical sterility mustbe maintained, reside in its improved dispensing mechanism and itscompletely automatic operation, whereby upon each placing of ones handsin position to receive soap therefrom, a measured quantity thereof isautomatically ejected upon the hands without requiring manual operationof or any physical contact whatsoever with the dispensing device.

These and other objects and advantages and features of novelty will beevident hereinafter.

In the drawings which illustrate a presently preferred embodiment of theinvention and in which like references characters designate the same orsimilar parts throughout "the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the invention as itappears within its enclosing cabinet, and illustrating a wall-mountingarrangement thereof for convenient use over a typical wash basin.

FIGURE 2 is a plan sectional view of the assembly of the apparatus takenon a horizontal plane located approximately on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged frontal view of the general assembly of theapparatus, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, andshowing the initial position of the actuating mechanism prior toinitiating a cycle of operation.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary end elevational view of a portionof the apparatus as viewed from line 4-4 of FIGURE 3. l FIGURE 5 is afragmentary, detailed elevational view of a portion of the actuatingmechanism shown in FIG- URE 3, showing the position of the parts thereofat an intermediate stage in its first one-half cycle of operation.

FIGURE 6 is another fragmentary, detailed view of the same mechanismshown in FIGURE 5, showing the position of the parts thereof at thecompletion of its one-half cycle of operation.

FIGURE 7 is still another fragmentary, detailed view of the samemechanism'shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 showing the position of the partsthereof at an intermediate stage in the second one-half cycle of itsoperation.

FIGURE 8 is a partially exploded, detailed perspective view of theapparatus elements of the actuating mechanism shown in FIGURES 3, 5, 6and 7.

FIGURE 9 is a detailed perspective view of one of the parts of theapparatus of FIGURE 8.

Y FIGURE 10 is a detailed perspective view of another part of theapparatus of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 11 is a schematic wiring diagram of the electrical controlcircuit and electrical apparatus elements employed in the apparatus ofthe invention.

FIGURE 12 is a schematic wiring diagram of an alternative electricalcontrol circuit which may be employed instead of that shown in FIGURE 9.

Referring to the drawing, and first primarily to FIG- URES 1, 2 and 3,the apparatus elements of the invention are housed in a cabinet,indicated generally at 10 which is adapted to be positioned upon asuitable supporting means, or preferably as illustrated in FIGURE 1,mounted on a wall in position for convenient use either adjacent to orover a wash basin 12.

The cabinet 10 includes as its principal components, a rectangular baseplate 14, a pair of downwardly extending, hollow, box-shaped leg members16 and 18 attached to the lower surface of the base plate 14 adjacentthe opposite ends thereof, and a removable top cover 20 which normallyrests upon the marginal portion of the base plate 14 and forms therewithan upper enclosure for portions of the apparatus to be hereinafterdescribed.

The base plate 14 together with the leg members 16 and 18 and a backpanel 22 which extends between the rearward surfaces thereof, forms anapproximately rectangular recess into which ones hands may be extendedfor receiving soap from the outlet nozzle -2 of a soap dispensing pump49 which projects downwardly into said recess through an intermediateportion of the base plate 14. The leg members 16 and 18 which may bemade integral with the base plate or attached thereto by suitable meanssuch as by welding are provided with removable end panels 24 and 26 foraccess to the interior thereof.

The top cover 20 is provided with means for locking it in closedposition upon base plate 14, which includes at one end thereof a tonguemember 28 fastened to the inner lower edge of the top cover in positionto extend slidably under a clip 30 attached to an adjacent portion ofthe top surface of the base plate 14, and at the other end a lockingattachment means which includes a conventional key operated cylindricaltype lock mechanism fixed through the end wall of the top cover as shownat 32 and carrying at its innermost end a finger latch member 34rotatable by a suitable key into and out of locking engagement with aslotted clip 36 fixed to the base plate 14. The left hand, forwardcorner of the top cover 20, as viewed in FIGURE 1, is provided with ahinged opening 38 through which convenient access may be had to an inletopening 40 in the lid 42 of a soap reservoir 44.

The soap reservoir 44, which may be made of Monel metal, stainlesssteel, plastic or the like suitable noncorrosive material, is supportedupon and attached to the upper surface of the base plate 14 by suitablemeans which includes a cross-wise extending bottom leg member 46adjacent one end, and adjacent the other end by means of an integrallyformed annular outlet nipple 47 which extends downwardly, from thelowest point in the bottom of the reservoir, through a correspondinglysized circular opening 48 in the base plate 14.

Connected to the lower end of the annular outlet nipple 47 of thereservoir 44 and extending downwardly therefrom below the base plate 14is the beforementioned soap dispensing pump shown generally at 49. Thedispensing pump 49 includes a pump cylinder 50, the upper end of whichis attached to the bottom of the outlet nipple 47 and also clamped inretaining engagement with the surrounding marginal portion of the baseplate opening 48. Also attached to the lower end of the cylinder 50 isthe beforementioned discharge nozzle 52. The outlet nipple portion 47,pump cylinder 50 and dischage nozzle member 52 are bolted coaxiallytogether, as before described, by means of a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced-apart, axially extending through-bolts as shownat 54, the upper ends of which are threaded into the lower end of theoutlet nipple 47 as shown at 56. The outlet nipple 47, pump cylinder 50and the discharge nozzle member 52 are formed with interconnecting,coaxial bores 58, 60 and 62 respectively of the same inside diameter,and which are in direct communication through the outlet nipple 47 withthe lowermost interior portion of the bottom of the soap reservoir 44.

Clamped in a radially inwardly facing, annular groove 64 formed betweenthe upper end of discharge nozzle for example, rubber, neeoprene plasticor the like resilient material, is formed at its apex with an upwardlyextending button-like supporting attachment projection 70 which isdetachably press-fitted into a central opening in the diaphram 66. Themaximum diameter of the rim of the cup-shaped portion of the valvemember 68 is normally slightly greater than the inside diameter of bore62 of the discharge nozzle 52 whereby upon installation within the bore62 as shown in FIGURE 3, its periphery makes suificiently firm sealingengagement with the surrounding wall of the bore normally to preventescape of fluid, such as liquid soap, from the reservoir 44 through thepump, and out of the discharge nozzle, but to be automaticallydeflectable upon application of increased pressure in excess of apredetermined maximum value in the lower end of the bore of the cylindercaused by downward movement of the pump piston, to permit discharge ofliquid soap from the discharge nozzle 52.

Vertically,, reciprocally supported within the beforementioned bores 58and 60 is a loose-fitting piston 72. The outside diameter of piston 72is less than the inside diameter of the bores 58 and 60 to provide anannular clearance space therebetween sufficient to prevent sealingengagement between the piston and core but small enough to permitgeneration of a substantial differential fluid pressure thereacross uponrapid axial movement of the piston 72 in the cylinder as will be furtherexplained in connection with the operation of the apparatus. The piston72 is vertically reciprocally supported within the beforementioned pumpbores 58 and 60' by means of a verticalpiston rod 74, which extendsthrough a slot 75 formed in the edge of cover 42, and which is in turnpivotally coupled at its upper end as shown at 76 to the outer end of alever member 78, which is connected to and forms a part of asolenoid-operated dispenser pump-actuating mechanism shown generally at80 in FIGURES 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

The lever member 78 is constructed of two interconnected parallel, arms82 and 84 which are pivoted adjacent their mid-points on a common fixedbearing 86 which consists of a spacer bearing bushing 88 supportedbetween a pair of vertical, spaced-apart, outer supporting plates 90 and92 by means of a coaxial roll pin 94. The supporting plates 90 and 92are both formed at their lower edges with horizontally extending anglelegs as shown at 96, by means of which they are fixed to the uppersurface of base plate 14.

The inner end of lever member 78 carries a cam follower roller which isretained between the inner end portions of the lever arms 82 and 84 bymeans of a roll pin 102. Positioned between the lever arms 82 and 84 andencompassing the cam follower roller 100 is an opencentered, cam head104 which is constructed of two parallel, spaced-apart, interconnectedcam members 106 and 108 having generally triangular camopeningstherethrough as shown at 110 and 112, and through which thebeforementioned cam follower roller extends.

The cam members 106 and 108 are supported for limited rocking motionupon integrally formed, downwardly extending cam levers 114 and 116whichare in turn pivotally supported adjacent their mid-sections upon afixed pivot bearing 118 which is supported by means of a roll pin 120extending between the 'beforementioned supporting plates 90 and 92. Thelower ends of cam levers 114 and 116 are provided with longitudinallyelongated holes 122 and 124 through which they are pivotally coupled asshown at 126 to the outer end of a solenoid armature 128 which extendsfrom and is axially reciprocable relative to'a solenoid electromagnetfield assembly shown generally at 130. The solenoid assembly 130 isfixedly supported by means of an angle clip, the horizontal leg 132 ofwhich is fastened to the base plate 114 and the vertical leg 134 ofwhich is bolted, as shown at 136 and 138, to a flanged member 140attached to and forming a portion of th housmg of the solenoidelectromagnet assembly 130.

The arm levers 114 and 116 and the cam members 106 and 108 carriedthereby are constantly urged pivotally counterclockwise, toward theposition thereof shown in FIGURES 3 and 8 by means of a helical spring131, one end of which is attached to a pin 133 extending between thesupporting plates 90 and 92 and the other end of which is connectedthrough a pair of links 133 and 135 pivotally to the outer ends of aroll pin 142 which extends crosswise between the cam lever arms 114 and116.

Referring again to the cam head 104, rotatably supported between theinner faces of the cam levers 114 and 11-6 upon the roll pin 142, is astar wheel 144 having four, equally circumferentially spaced-apart,approximately radially extending arms as shown at 146, 148, 150, and152. The pivot of the star wheel 144 is so positioned on the cam levers114 and 116 that by rotation of the star Wheel, the arms 146, 148, 150and 152 thereof are rotationally movable in succession into positions inwhich they project into the opening in the cam head 104 as best shown inFIGURES 3, 5, 6 and 7.

Also fixedly positioned between the cam levers 114 and 116 by means ofroll pins 120 and 142 is a ratchet pawl device shown generally at 154,and which consists of two spaced-apart hook-shaped, spring members 156and 158, between which the star wheel is rotatably supported upon thebeforementioned roll pin 142. The pawl spring members 156 and 158, asbest shown in FIGURE 9, are formed with downwardly convergingly inclinedtips as shown at 160 and 162 which are resiliently biased toward closedengagement with one another, are deflectable apart to permit passage ofstar wheel arms therebetween when the star wheel is rotated clockwise asviewed in the figures. However, counter-clockwise rotation of the starwheel is prevented by the pawl and normally stopped from such rotationat a position such as shown in FIGURES 3, 5 and 6 at which the closedends 160 and 162 of the pawl members 156 and 158 engage a laterallyextending edge surfaces of a star wheel arm.

The beforementioned generally triangular opnings 110 and 112 formedthrough the two cam head member 106 and 108 are shaped such as toprovide a pair of identically shaped, side-by-side continuous camsurfaces, such surface each havingan arcuate section as indicated at 166concentric with the cam head pivot 120, and two radially oppositeangularly disposed, substantially straight sections as indicated at 168and 170. Such cam surface sections are interconnected by circularsections each of which has a radius substantially equal to the radius ofthe cam follower roller 100. In operation, upon imparting pivotalrocking motion to the cam head 104 about its pivot center 120, the camfollower 100 is caused to move in accordance with the contour of thecontinuous cam'surface, in a generally counter-clockwise directionrelative thereto, as will be further explained hereinafter in connectionwith the operation of the apparatus.

Referring again primarily to FIGURE 3, contained Within the box-shapedleg member 16 adjacent the lower end thereof and directly behind acircular aperture 172 formed through the inwardly facing wall thereof,is a light source 173 comprising preferably an incandescent electriclamp 174. A suitable reflector 176 is positioned back of the lamp 174and a collimating lens 178 is positioned in the aperture 172 in front ofthe lamp and retained there by means of a retainer ring 80. Thereflector 176 and lens 178 are designed, as is well'known in the art, todirect a relatively narrow light beam across the space separating theleg members 16 and 18, as indicated by the broken lines 182. Locatedwithin the box-shaped leg member 18 adjacent the lower end thereof, anddirectly behind a circular aperture 192 formed through the inwardlyfacing wall thereof, directly opposite the beforementioned light source173, is a light sensitive cell 184. The cell 184 may be any one of anumber of suitable light sensitive devices, used in conjunction withsuitable electrical circuits, such as, for example, a cadmium sulfidephotoconductive cell manufactured by the International RectifierCorporation. This cell is usually provided with a forward,multi-lenticular-shaped transparent covering as shown at 186, and in thepresent arrangement a relatively long light entrance tube 188 isadditionally provided between the front surface of the covering 186 andthe aperture 192, having a plurality of longitudinally extending,cross-wise baffies for the purposes of'excluding extraneousambient-light from the cell 184. The circular aperture 192 is preferablyclosed by a protective, transparent disk 194.

Referring next primarily to FIGURE 2, the electrical components of theapparatus are suitably supported, as shown, on the upper surface of thebase plate 14 and are enclosed under a box-shaped cover 196 which issecured by a plurality of machine screws as shown at 198, in gastightsealing engagement with the upper surface of the base plate 14. Theelectrical components comprise a solenoid control relay 200, a rectifier220, a relay-contact arc suppressor network 204, and a smoothingcapacitor 210.

Referring now principally to the circuit diagram shown in FIGURE 11, theelectrical elements and circuits for the apparatus, generally describedin connection with FIGURE 2, are as follows: A plug 212 is provided formaking electrical connection to a conventional volt A-C electric powersource outlet. From the connectorplug 212 electrical connection is madethrough conductor 214, rectifier 202, conductor 216, photoconductivecell 184, conductor 218 and through the windings of the electromagnet ofthe control relay 200 and return through conductor 220 to the plug 212.The capacitor 210 is connected between the conductors 216 and 220- onthe output side of the rectifier 202 and serves to smooth the rectified,pulsating direct current which, in operation, is applied by therectifier 202 across the photoconductor cell 184 and windings of therelay 200. The effect of the capacitor 210 is thus to smooth the actionof the relay 200 when actu: ated. The field windings of theelectromagnet of the solenoid are connected across the conductor 214 and220 by way of conductor 222, thermostat circuit breaker 224, conductor226, relay contacts 228 and 230, which are normally open, and returnthrough conductor 232. The series connected resistor 208 and capacitor206 of the beforementioned arc suppressor network 204 are connectedacross the relay contact points 228 and 230, and serve to suppressarcing which tends to occur between the contact points when they open.The light source for the photoconductive cell 184 which, as hereinbeforemen'- tioned, preferably consist of an incandescent electric lamp 174,is connected through conductors 234 and 236, directly across conductors214 and 220 leading from the connector plug 212.

The electrical apparatus elements which have been found satisfactory forthe before described circuitry of FIGURE 11 are as follows: Solenoid 130may be a No. AC-102 alternating current solenoid, manufactured by WestCoast Electric Manufacturing Company. The thermostat circuit breaker 224may be a hermetically sealed Klixon protector Mod. 7895, manufactured byTexas Instruments Incorporated, and designed to open at a temperature inexcess of 170 F. and to close at about F. This thermostat is fastened inclose thermal proximity to the windings of the solenoid 130 whereby inevent the temperature of the windings exceed the predetermined value ofapproximately F., the solenoid 'elecertcial circuit will open and remainopen until the solenoid cools to a temperature of approximately 140 F.

The rectifier 202 may be a conventional silicon power rectifier, ratedat 750 peak inverse volts and capable of passing up to 50 ma. D-C. Thecell 184 as beforementioned may be a cadmium sulfide photoconductivecell, such as an I.R.C. No. CS 120M6, manufactured by InternationalRectifier Corporation. This cell has a resistance of approximately 1600ohms under an illumination intensity of 100 foot-candles. The relay 200may be a Guardian No. 111625-10 manufactured by Guardian ElectricManufacturing Company of California, Incorporated, and which has awindings resistance of approximately 10,000 ohms. The resistor 208 has aresistance of 150 ohms and is rated at one-half watt, and the capa citor206 has a capacity of 0.1 mfd. with a maximum rating of 600 volts. Thelight source 174 is preferably 110 volt 10 watt incandescent electriclamp.

Reference is next directed to FIGURE 12 in which an alternative,so-called solid state version of the electrical components of thecircuits of the apparatus are shown and in which the control relay 200and its associated contacts 228 and 230 have been eliminated, therebyminimizing certain hazards which might otherwise exist by reason ofarcing at the relay contact points, such as for example, the danger ofexplosions occurring in an atmosphere containing combustibleanesthetics. The power economy and reliability of operation of theapparatus as a whole is also improved.

In the electrical circuits of FIGURE 12, electrical connection is madefrom the connector plug 212, through conductor 238, a semiconductorcontrolled rectifier 240, and conductor 242 to the electromagnetwindings of the solenoid 130 and return through conductor 244 to theconnector plug 212. Connected between the conductor 238 and the controlor .gate terminal 246 of the controlled rectifier 240, is a serieselectrical circuit consisting of rectifier 248, resistor 250, conductor252, resistor 254, and a Zener voltage regulator diode 247. Connectedbetween conductor 1252 and conductor 244 is the photoconductive cell284. Also, connected in shunt to the electromagnet windings of thesolenoid 130 is a rectifier 255, with its polarity reversed relative tothat of rectifier 240, and which serves in effect as a capacitance whichsmooths the pulsating direct current from the controlled rectifier 240and acts as a conductive shunt to absorb inductive counter potentialsurges from the solenoid coil which occurs upon deenergization thereof.Thus, in operation, the rectifier 255 serves to smooth out the action ofthe solenoid and protect the other elements of the circuit. Thethermostat 224 shown in this circuit serves the same purpose as thathereinbefore described in connection with the circuit of FIGURE 11.

The electrical apparatus elements which have been found satisfactory forthe before described circuitry of FIGURE 12 are as follows: the solenoid130 may be the same as or similar to that hereinbefore described inconnection with FIGURE 11. The controlled rectifier 240 may be a siliconcontrolled rectifier No. 3RC25 manufactured by the InternationalRectifier Corporation. The rectifiers 2'48 and 255 may each be a No.10D3 silicon rectifier rate at 300 peak inverse volts, 210 r.m.s.voltage input and 1000 ma. D-C output. The resistor 250 may be variablefrom to 50,000 ohms with a 1 watt rating, and resistor 254 may have avalue of 10,000 ohms with a rating of 2 watts. The diode 247 may be aZener I.R.C. No. IZ6.8T20, manufactured by the International RectifierCorporation. The photoconductive cell 184 and the light source 174 maybe the same as those hereinbefore described in connection with FIGURE11.

The operation of the apparatus as controlled by the electrical apparatushereinbefore described in connection with FIGURE 11 is as follows:

Upon energization of the electrical circuit, of FIG- URE 11, and so longas the light beam 182 between the light source 174 and thephotoconductive cell 184 remains uninterrupted, the conductivity of thephotoconductive cell 184 will be sufiicient to permit rectifiedalternating current to flow from the rectifier 202 through the windingsof the control relay'200, thereby energizing the control relay 200sufficiently to maintain open the normally closed relay contacts 228 and230, under which conditions the solenoid 130 remains unenergized. Uponinterruption of the light beam 182 by any means, such as by positioningones hands, in the path of the beam below the soap dispensing nozzle 52,illumination of the photoconductive cell 184 is cut off causing itsresistance immediately to rise sufficiently to cut off substantially allflow of current from the rectifier 202 through the control relay 200.The control relay 200 being thus deenergized, the normally closed relaycontacts 228 and 230 close, thereby completing the electrical circuitfrom the power source through the solenoid 130 by way of conductors 222,226 and 232. Upon thus energizing the solenoid 130, the solenoidarmature 128 is pulled into the solenoid core, thereby pivoting the camlevers 114 and 116 and the cam head i104 carried thereby in a clockwisedirection about the cam lever pivot bearing 118, from the initialposition shown in FIGURES 3 and 8 to that shown in FIGURE 6. Suchmovement of the cam head 104 relative to the cam follower roller resultsin movement of the cam follower roller along the slot formed between thecam section 170 and the adjacent parallel upper edge of arms 148 of thestar wheel 144, until the cam follower reaches a point adjacent theouter end of such arm as shown in FIGURE 5. During this time the starwheel is locked in the position shown by the pawl device 154. Followingthis the cam follower roller continues to move relative to the cam head104 along the cam section 168 to a position at the juncture of the camsections 168 and .166 shown in FIGURE 6. Such motion of the cam followerroller 100 relative to the cam surfaces 170 and 168 within the cam head104 results in first rocking the lever member 78 in a clock-wisedirection as shown by arrow 79 from its position shown in FIGURES 3 and8, to the position shown in FIGURE 5, followed immediately by rockingthe lever member 78 in the reverse direction indicated by arrow 81 tothe position shown in FIGURE 6, which is the same position the levermember initially occupied as shown in FIGURES 3 and 8. This results in acomplete reciprocatory cycle of operation of the piston rod 74 and ofthe piston 72 within the bores 58 and 60 of the pump cylinder 50, fromthe uppermost position thereof shown in FIGURE 3 to the lowermostposition as shown in FIGURE 5 and returned to the uppermost position asshown in FIGURE 6. The piston 172 is thus positively actuated throughoutboth its downward and upward motions for each single energization of thesolenoid 130.

Upon removal of the obstruction from the light beam 182, thephotoconductive cell 184 is again fully illuminated whereupon itsresistance drops sufficiently to permit sufiicient flow of rectifieddirect current through the windings of the control relay 200 to open itscontact points 228 and 230 thereby interrupting the flow of currentthrough the solenoid and thereby deenergizing the solenoid 130. Uponsuch deenergizing of the solenoid 130, the solenoid armature I128 movesoutwardly from the solenoid 130 under the force of spring 131 acting onthe cam levers 114 and 116, through the linkages 133, thereby pivotingthe cam head 104 in a counterclockwise direction, thereby returning itto its initial position shown in FIGURE 3. Upon such returncounterclockwise movement of the cam head 104, the cam follower 100moves along the arcuate cam section 166 until it engages the inwardlyprojecting end of the arm 148 of the star wheel 144 causing the starwheel to rotate in a clock-wise direction as indicated by the arrow 145shown in FIGURE 7, thereby permitting the cam follower roller 100 tocontinue to move along the arcuate section 166 until it comes to rest inthe position it initially occupied relative to the cam head 104, shownin FIGURE 3. Inasmuch as the cam section 166 is concentric with thepivot point 188 of the cam head 104, no rocking motion is imported tothe lever member 78 during this return motion.

Upon each cycle of actuation of the soap dispenser pump, as beforedescribed, the piston 72 is moved downwardly within the cylinder 50 withsuflicient velocity to discharge a quantity of liquid soap past thevalve member 68 despite the relatively large clearance between thepiston and cylinder bore. Upon the upward return stroke of the piston72, the cup-shaped valve member 68 assumes its normally closed positionthereby causing a reduction in pressure in the cylinder bore 60 belowthe piston 72 sufficient to draw liquid soap from the reservoir 44through the clearance space between. the piston 72 and the bore 70,thereby refilling the cylinder bore below the piston 72 in readiness foranother cycle of operation.

Important advantages reside in constructing the soap dispensing pump, ashereinbefore described, with the inlet end of the pump bore 60 in directcommunication with the bottom of the reservoir 44, with the piston 72 indirect agitating contact with the contents thereof and with a relativelylarge clearance provided between the piston 72 and the inside of thecylinder bore 60. Among these advantages are the resultant constantlyself-priming and selfcleaning action of the pump and the elimination ofall interconnecting tubing and all pump intake valve mechanisms whichwould otherwise be necessary. Difliculties heretofore encountered inconnection with such dispensing mechanisms, particularly when employedin connection with a material such as a so-called liquid soap, whichoften exhibits some of the properties of a semi-plastic material andwhich also has a tendency to build-up solidified deposits when in useand to settle out and solidify upon remaining quiescent for a length oftime, has thereby been minimized. Furthermore, the employment of thekind of discharge valve 68 herein disclose-d has also minimized manydifficulties. hereinbefore encountered, such as clogging of the valveand adjacent discharge opening of the dispensing mechanism by reason ofprogressive accumulation of solidiled soap within and adjacent thedischarge valve and within the discharge nozzle. Dripping of soap fromthe nozzle following each use is also minimized.

The operation of the apparatus when employing the alternative electricalelements and circuits shown in FIG- URE 12 is similar to that heretoforedescribed and is as follows: While the light beam extending from thelight source 174 to the photoconductive cell 184 remains uninterrupted,the resistance of the photoconductive cell 184 remains sufiiciently lowto permit sufiicient rectified direct current to flow from conductor 238through rectifier 248,

resistor 250, through the photoconductive cell 184 and return to theconductor 244 to lower the DC potential of the circuit consisting ofconductor 252, resistor 254, Zener diode 247, and gate terminal 246 ofthe silicon controlled rectifier 240, sufficient to prevent initiationof conductivity thereof. Thus, while the light beam remainsuninterrupted, the solenoid 130 remains unenergized. Upon interruptionof the light beam 182, the resistance of the photoconductive cell 184rises sutficiently to substantially cut off flow of current through therectifier 248 and resistor 250 thereby permitting the potential of thecircuit consisting of conductor 252 and resistor 254 to reach theconductive potential of the Zener diode 247, whereupon the potential ofthe gate terminal 246 suddenly rises sufiiciently to initiateconductivity of the silicon con trolled rectifier 240, thus permittingrectified direct current to flow from conductor 238 through rectifier240 and conductor 242 through the solenoid 130 and return throughconductor 244, thereby energizing the solenoid electromagnet 130 whichin turn results in actuation of the dispenser pump actuating mechanismthrough the first half of its operating cycle, as hereinbefore describedin connection with the circuit of FIGURE 11. Upon removing theobstruction to the light beam 182, permitting it to again illuminate thephotoconductive cell 184, the resistance thereof lowers suflicientlyagain to lower the potential across the Zener diode 247 to a value atwhich it is nonconductive and thereby in turn lowering the potential ofthe gate terminal 246 of the silicon controller rectifier 240 whereuponthe silicon controlled rectifier 240, by reason of the reversing natureof the alternating current 10 applied thereto, returns to itsnon-conductive condition, thereby cutting off the flow of currentthrough the solenoi-d and permitting the dispenser pump actuatingmechanism to complete the second half of its cycle of operation, underthe force of spring 131, as hereinbe-fore described in connection withthe circuit of FIGURE 11.

It is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative only and thatthe invention is not limited thereby but may include variousmodifications and changes made by those skilled in the art Withoutdistinguishing from the scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

What is claimed is: I

1. In a fluid dispensing device having a pump cylinder, and a pistonaxially reciprocably contained in said cylinder, apparatus for impartinga positive reciprocation cycle to said piston relative to said cylinderin response to a single power impulse applied thereto, comprising:

a lever rockably supported at a point intermediate its opposite ends,said lever being coupled adjacent one end to said piston and carryingadjacent the other end a cam follower;

a cam head pivotally supported on a cam pivot for pivotal movementthrough a predetermined limited angle, said cam head having a continuouscam surface having inner and outer radially oppositely positionedsections, a first of such sections having a circular curvaturesubstantially concentric with said cam pivot, and the second of suchsections having a curvature, at least a portion of which has a radiussubstantially less than, and eccentric to that of said first of suchsections;

means carried by said cam head for restraining said cam followersubstantially to continuous following travel in one direction aroundsaid continuous cam surface from and return to a given point thereon,said travel being first along said second one of said sections as saidcam head is pivoted from an initial position forward through saidpredetermined angle and second along said first one of said sectionsback to said given point thereon as said cam head is pivoted backthrough said predetermined angle to said initial position, therebyimparting one completerocking movement cycle to said lever in responseto said forward pivotal movement of said head from said initial positionthrough said predetermined angle, and imparting no rocking movement tosaid lever in response to pivotal movement of said head back throughsaid predetermined angle to said initial position;

power means coupled to said cam head and energizable for positivelyimparting pivotal movement of said cam head forward and back throughsaid predetermined angle;

and control means actuatable for intermittently energizing said powermeans.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said power means comprises anelectromagnet having an armature means movable in response toenergization' of said elec tromagnet;

and lever means coupling said armature means to said cam head.

3. In a fluid dispensing device having a pump cylinder,

and a piston axially reciprocably contained in said cylinder, apparatusfor imparting a positive reciprocation cycle to said piston relative tosaid cylinder in response to a single power impulse applied thereto,comprising:

a lever rockably supported at a point intermediate the opposite endsthereof, said lever being coupled adjacent one end to said piston andcarrying adjacent the other end a cam follower;

. a cam head pivotally supported on a cam pivot for pivotal movementthrough a predetermined limited angle, said cam head having a continuouscam surface encircling said cam follower and having radially inner andouter oppositely confronting sections, a

first of such sections having a circular curvature substantiallyconcentric with said cam pivot, and the second of such sections having acurvature, at least a portion of which has a radius substantially lessthan and eccentric to that of said first of such sections;

means carried by said cam head for restraining said cam followersubstantially to continuous following contact in one direction aroundsaid continuous cam surface from and return to a given point thereon,first along said second one of said sections as said cam head is pivotedfrom an initial angular position through said predetermined angle in afirst direction, and second along said first one of said sections inreturn to said given point thereon as said cam head is pivoted backthrough said predetermined angle in a direction opposite said firstdirection, to said initial position, thereby completing one circuit ofsaid cam follower around said continuous cam surface and imparting onecomplete rocking movement cycle to said lever in response to pivotalmovement of said head through said predetermined angle in said firstdirection, and imparting no rocking movement to said lever in responseto pivotal movement of said head through said predetermined angle insaid direction opposite said first direction;

and power impulse producing means coupled to said cam head forpositively imparting pivotal movement of said cam head through saidfirst predetermined angle in said first direction each time a powerimpulse is produced thereby;

and resilient means for imparting return pivotal movement of said headthrough said predetermined angle in said direction opposite said firstdirection.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which said power impulse producingmeans comprises an electromagnet having an armature means movable inresponse to energization of said electromagnet;

and lever means coupling said armature means to said cam head, wherebyenergization of said electromagnet means imparts said pivotal movementof said cam head through said first predetermined angle in said firstdirection.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3, and control means actuatable to causesuch power impulse to be produced once each time said control means isactuated.

6. In a fluid dispensing device, apparatus comprising:

a reservoir for containing a quantity of fluid to be dispensed;

a pump cylinder extending from the bottom of said reservoir and having apump bore therethrough in direct communication with the interior of saideservoir;

a piston reciprocably contained in said pump bore;

a discharge opening from the lower end of said pump bore below saidpiston;

a one-way outlet valve in said discharge opening, openable in responseto pressures in excess of a predetermined fluid pressure in said lowerend of said pump bore to permit discharge of fluid therefrom throughsaid discharge opening;

a lever rockably supported at a point intermediate its opposite ends,said lever being coupled adjacent one end to said piston and carryingadjacent the other end a cam follower;

a cam head pivotally supported on a cam pivot for pivotal movementthrough a predetermined limite'd angle, said cam head having acontinuous cam surface having inner and outer radially oppositelypositioned sections, a first of such sections having a circularcurvature substantially concentric with said cam pivot, and the secondof such sections having a curvature, at least a portion of which has aradius substantially less than, and eccentric to that of said first ofsuch sections;

means carried by said cam head for restraining said cam followersubstantially to continuous following travel in one direction aroundsaid continuous cam surface from and return to a given point thereon,said travel being first along said second one of said sections as saidcam head is pivoted from an initial position forward through saidpredetermined angle, and second along said first one of said sectionsback to said given point thereon as said cam head is pivoted backthrough said predetermined angle to said initial position, therebyimparting one complete rocking movement cycle to said lever in responseto said forward pivotal movement of said head from said initial positionthrough said predetermined angle, and imparting no rocking movement tosaid lever in response to pivotal movement of said head back throughsaid predetermined angle to said initial position;

power means coupled to said cam head and energizable for positivelyimparting pivotal movement of said cam head forward and back throughsaid predetermined angle;

and control means act-uatable for intermitently energizing said powermeans.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which said power means comprises anelectromagnet having an armature means movable in response toenergization of said electromagnet;

and lever means coupling said armature means to said cam head.

8. In a dispensing device, apparatus comprising:

a reservoir for containing a quantity of fluid to be dispense-d;

a pump cylinder in communication with said reservoir and having itsupper end in substantially direct communication with the interiorthereof;

a piston axially reciprocably contained in said cylinder;

electric power means actuatable to impart reciprocation to said pistonrelative to said cylinder;

and control means for actuating said power means,

said control means including:

a semiconductor controlled rectifier having an input terminal, an outputterminal and a control gate terminal;

a series circuit including conductor means connecting said rectifierthrough said input and output terminals in series with said power means;

conductor means for connecting said series circuit across an A-C powersource, whereby said power means may be energized with rectified D-Cthrough said rectifier when said rectifier is conductive;

means including light sensitive means for applying a potentialdifference between said input and control gate terminals of saidrectifier such as to initiate con ductivity of said rectifier when saidlight sensitive means is subjected to one illumination intensity andinsufficient to initiate conductivity of said rectifier when said lightsensitive device is subjected to another illumination intensity.

9. In a fluid dispensing system having a reservoir for material to bedispensed, a pump cylinder in communication with said reservoir, apiston reciprocable in said cylinder, and power means actuatable toimpart reciprocation to said piston relative to said cylinder, controlmeans for actuating said power means comprising:

a first supply conductor means for connection to one side of an AC powersource;

a second supply conductor means for connection to the other side of anA-C power source;

a semiconductor controlled rectifier having an input terminal, an outputterminal, and a control gate terminal, said input terminal beingconnected to said first supply conductor;

conductor means connecting said output terminal,

through said power means to said second supply con- 3,327,901 13 14ductor means, whereby said power means may be connected to said controlgate terminal of said controlled energized with unidirectional currentthrough said rectifier.

controlled rectifier when said controlled rectifier is 11. Apparatusaccording to claim 10 and aresistor conconductive; nected between saidsecond end of said resistor and said a second rectifier having its inputterminal connected input terminal of said Zener diode.

to said first supply conductor on the input side of 12. Apparatusaccording to claim 11 and an electric said controller rectifier; lightsource connected across said first and second supply a photoconductivedevice; conductors, and positioned normally to illuminate said aresistor having a first end thereof connected to the p c nductive dvice.

output of said second rectifier and the second end thereof connectedthrough said photoconductive de- References Cited vice to said secondsupply conductor, whereby uni- UNITED ATES PATENTS directional currentflows through said resistor and said photoconductive device when saidphotoconducfi i *[iVG device iS COHdHCt Ve; 2,609,966 9 1 952 g 222f33'3 X a control conductor means interconnecting said second 27026552/1955 L 222 333 X end of said resistor to said control gate terminal of2912999 11/1959 a ersh 137-525 X said controlled rectifier, whereby whensaid photo- 3 001 557 9/1961 K k 222 76 X conductive device isconductive or noncond-uctive the 3019764 2/1962 S 15 222 64 X potentialof said control gate terminal is such as to 3O97763 7/1963 i g ig Xrender said controlled rectifier respectively conduc- 1/1964 Mitt 61"f"; '1' 222 tive and noncondu-ctive when energized by said A-C 31308764/1964 Baker e ger e a X power source, thereby respectively energizingand 3206079 9/1965 Mancus'i 222 494 X deenergizing said power means. 10.Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said con- ROBERT B REEVES,Primal), Emmi-"en trol conductor means includes a Zener -d1ode in seriestherein with its efi'ective input terminal connected to said LANE,Assistant Examinerseoond end of said resistor and its eifective outputend

1. IN A FLUID DISPENSING DEVICE HAVING A PUMP CYLINDER, AND A PISTONAXIALLY RECIPROCABLY CONTAINED IN SAID CYLINDER, APPARATUS FOR IMPARTINGA POSITIVE RECIPROCATION CYCLE TO SAID PISTON RELATIVE TO SAID CYLINDERIN RESPONSE TO A SINGLE POWER IMPULSE APPLIED THERETO, COMPRISING: ALEVER ROCKABLY SUPPORTED AT A POINT INTERMEDIATE ITS OPPOSITE ENDS, SAIDLEVER BEING COUPLED ADJACENT ONE END TO SAID PISTON AND CARRYINGADJACENT THE OTHER END A CAM FOLLOWER; A CAM HEAD PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED ONA CAM PIVOT FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT THROUGH A PREDETERMINED LIMITED ANGLE,SAID CAM HEAD HAVING A CONTINUOUS CAM SURFACE HAVING INNER AND OUTERRADIALLY OPPOSITELY POSITIONED SECTIONS, A FIRST OF SUCH SECTIONS HAVINGA CIRCULAR CURVATURE SUBSTANTIALLY CONCENTRIC WITH SAID CAM PIVOT, ANDTHE SECOND OF SUCH SECTIONS HAVING A CURVATURE, AT LEAST A PORTION OFWHICH HAS A RADIUS SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN, AND ECCENTRIC TO THAT OFSAID FIRST OF SUCH SECTIONS; MEANS CARRIED BY SAID CAM HEAD FORRESTRAINING SAID CAM FOLLOWER SUBSTANTIALLY TO CONTINUOUS FOLLOWINGTRAVEL IN ONE DIRECTION AROUND SAID CONTINUOUS CAM SURFACE FROM ANDRETURN TO A GIVEN POINT THEREON, SAID TRAVEL BEING FIRST ALONG SAIDSECOND ONE OF SAID SECTIONS AS SAID CAM HEAD IS PIVOTED FROM AN INITIALPOSITION FORWARD THROUGH SAID PREDETERMINED ANGLE AND SECOND ALONG SAIDFIRST ONE OF SAID SECTIONS BACK TO SAID GIVEN POINT THEREON AS SAID CAMHEAD IS PIVOTED BACK THROUGH SAID PREDETERMINED ANGLE TO SAID INITIALPOSITION, THEREBY IMPARTING ONE COMPLETE ROCKING MOVEMENT CYCLE TO SAIDLEVER IN RESPONSE TO SAID FORWARD PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID HEAD FROMSAID INITIAL POSITION THROUGH SAID PREDETERMINED ANGLE, AND IMPARTING NOROCKING MOVEMENT TO SAID LEVER IN RESPONSE TO PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAIDHEAD BACK THROUGH SAID PREDETERMINED ANGLE TO SAID INITIAL POSITION;POWER MEANS COUPLED TO SAID CAM HEAD AND ENERGIZABLE FOR POSITIVELYIMPARTING PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID CAM HEAD FORWARD AND BACK THROUGHSAID PREDETERMINED ANGLE; AND CONTROL MEANS ACTUATABLE FORINTERMITTENTLY ENERGIZING SAID POWER MEANS.